What to Expect from Your First Botox Appointment

If you are concerned about facial lines or wrinkles, you do not need to decide on a treatment before booking. A consultation is the appropriate place to explain what you have noticed, what you would like to improve and what outcome would feel natural to you.

Your consultation

Your practitioner will review the areas that concern you, relevant medical history, previous aesthetic procedures and any medication or health factors that may affect suitability. Facial movement, skin quality, volume and anatomy can all influence which options are appropriate.

Different types of lines can have different causes. Lines associated mainly with facial movement may need a different approach from lines related to skin texture, sun exposure, loss of volume or skin laxity. The aim of the consultation is to distinguish between these factors rather than assume that one treatment is suitable for everyone.

Discussing suitable options

After assessment, the practitioner can explain the options that may be suitable, together with their expected benefits, limitations, possible side effects, downtime and aftercare. More than one approach may be discussed, and it is also possible that the safest recommendation is to delay treatment or not proceed.

If a prescription-only medicine could be relevant, suitability and prescribing must be assessed by an appropriately qualified prescriber. No particular prescription medicine is promised or recommended before that assessment.

Questions to ask

• What is causing the lines or changes I can see?
• Which options are suitable for my anatomy and medical history?
• What result is realistic for me?
• What are the common side effects and important risks?
• How much downtime or aftercare is involved?
• Are there non-injectable or skin-focused alternatives?
• What happens if I decide not to proceed?

Before you decide

A consultation should give you enough information to make an informed decision without pressure. Results vary between individuals and no aesthetic treatment can guarantee a particular outcome.

For more detail, visit our facial lines and wrinkles consultation page, our clinical standards and treatment evidence page, or our deeper factual prescription-treatment information.